The primary spherical of the Australian Open heats up in an enormous method with a jam-packed schedule on Tuesday. Nick Kyrgios is amongst these in motion, whereas Adelaide champion Felix Auger-Aliassime can be taking the courtroom. On the ladies’s aspect, former runner-up Elena Rybakina is kicking off her fortnight.
Listed below are my picks for 2 of Day 2’s greatest matchups.
Jan-Lennard Struff vs. (29) Felix Auger-AliassimeAuger-Aliassime arrives at Melbourne Park with plenty of momentum, having triumphed in Adelaide on Saturday night. That marked the sixth ATP title of his promising however up-and-down skilled profession. The Twenty ninth-ranked Canadian also needs to discover confidence from his previous outcomes a the Australian Open, as he reached the quarterfinals three years in the past and two different instances superior to the fourth spherical.
Up first for Auger-Aliassime on Monday is a fifth assembly with Struff and so they have break up their 4 earlier conferences at two wins apiece. Struff performed this previous week in Auckland and fell within the second spherical to Gael Monfils, who went on to win the event. The 34-year-old German is harmful primarily due to an enormous serve, however he has been a catastrophe Down Underneath over time. His main-draw file at this occasion stands at 2-10 all time. A extra assured Auger-Aliassime ought to have the sting within the pressure-packed moments.
Choose: Auger-Aliassime in 5
Jake Fearnley vs. Nick KyrgiosFor the primary time since 2022, Aussie followers will get to see Kyrgios on the dwelling slam. The previous Wimbledon runner-up has been away from the sport for principally two full years on account of numerous bodily issues and maybe some psychological points, as properly. Kyrgios’ comeback occasion got here earlier this month in Brisbane, the place the 29-year-old acquired a foul draw and exited instantly by the hands of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard through a 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 7-6(3) determination.
It is going to be a comparatively unknown Fearnley on the opposite aspect of the web in John Cain Enviornment. Hardcore tennis followers, nonetheless, are properly away of the previous TCU standout. Following a stellar faculty profession, Fearnley was superior on the Challenger circuit in 2024. He received 4 such titles and commenced this 12 months with a semifinal exhibiting in Canberra, dropping solely to NextGen ATP Finals winner Joao Fonseca. Fearnley has received a ton of matches over the previous 12 months; Kyrgios hasn’t received a single one in additional than two years. That can give the Brit a bonus in crunch time.
Choose: Fearnley in 5
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
